The number of people in evacuation centres has decreased as some people have moved back to their homes to try to rebuild their lives after the severe floods.

DISMAC Principal Officer Patiliai Dobui said right now there are only two schools occupied with people having vacated the rest so that cleaning can start for the start of the first school term next Monday.

Dobui earlier estimated that around 137,000 people now need relief food assistance with the exception of figures from Northern Division as they start their second phase of assistance in the flood ravaged areas.

He had confirmed that they will now start providing food rations to individual affected families adding some areas in Nadi, Nadroga, Navosa, Nadarivatu and parts of Ra are not accessible by road so arrangements are currently being made to airlift these rations.